NIGHTLIFE

31 October
All Hallow’s Eve
A Halloween extravaganza at The Alley, Paceville. The best dressed will win a Xen voucher. Music by The Guild and Skat. Jager Girls will be in attendance and drinks offers include 12 and spirits at 50c till 11pm.

MUSIC

Final performance tonight
Manoel Theatre Swings with GO
A concert of swing standards arranged to a modern jazz flare and performed by a 16-piece big band with vocalists Nadine Axisa and Daniel Cauchi will be held at the Manoel Theatre, 8pm. Under the musical direction of Sigmund Mifsud, the programme includes numbers from the repertoires of Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Ella Fitzgerald, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Diana Krall and Michael Buble. Tickets Lm10.00, Lm6.00, Lm4.00
3 November
Angelcrypt and Twenty Six Other Worlds
The two metal bands will be performing live at Remedy Rock Club, Paceville. Doors open at 9pm and entrance is Lm2.

17 November
Indigo & Co.
Indigo will be launching a new video, ‘Scarecrow’ and performing live at The Alley, Paceville. Doors open at 9pm and entrance is Lm1.50.
www.indigo.com.mt

THEATRE

Final performance tonight
Doubt
Masquerade opens its theatrical season with Doubt by John Patrick Shanley, directed by Anthony Bezzina at St James Cavalier. Set against the backdrop of a Bronx Catholic school in 1964, it tells the story of a staunch-minded nun faced with a difficult decision. Should she voice concerns about one of her male colleagues, even if she's not entirely certain of the truth? The play won many awards when it opened in 2005 - including Best Play for 2005 and also the Pulitzer Prize for 2004 - becoming the biggest sensation Broadway has seen in years. The cast includes Monica Attard, Malcolm Galea, Faye Paris and Evelyn Duah. Tickets to be booked at St James Cavalier (21223200), from 10.00am till 9.00pm daily. www.masquerademalta.com

2 - 4, 9 - 11 November
Equus
Unifaun Theatre will be presenting Equus by Peter Shaffer at St James Cavalier. Direction is by Marcelle Teuma and cast includes Alan Paris, Pia Zammit, Sean Buhagiar, Jo Caruana, Colin Willis, Lilian Pace, Jean Pierre Agius, Valerie Blow, Jan Zammit, Jovan Pisani, Clayton Camilleri. Booking at boxoffice@sjcav.org, 21223200, 21223216

Tonight; 2, 4 November
Bla Kondixin 2007
Bla Kondixin satirises the elections this year. The cast includes Hector Bruno, Mario ‘Snits’ Spiteri returning to the stage as the unlucky Ciklist and Paul Portelli playing a range of characters – the most recognisable of which is the Lajburist. Dominic Said plays the agony aunt Angela Parnajs, and P. J. Xerxen transforms himself into a Sheik from Dubai. There will also be a few new faces. A new feature this year includes an interview with a well-known personality live each night. The audience will vote on how well the personality fared during the interview, and a failure will cost the guest dearly.
Bla Kondixin 2007 will be held at the Sir Temi Zammit, University of Malta. Performances start at 7.30p.m. Booking from St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity on 21 223216, or boxoffice@sjcav.org. www.blakondixin.com.

EXHIBITIONS

Until 18 November
Work in 20th Century Maltese art
An exhibition of paintings representing manual labour on the island over the century, curated by Dennis Vella at the Main Hall of St James Cavalier. In Vella's words: "The main occupations that have interested Maltese artists working in the twentieth century are stone masonry and building, fishing and harbour-work and agriculture. On the other hand, due to their lack of obvious pictorial appeal, trades and jobs that have hardly ever been treated are industrial ship repair and construction, besides mass-manufacture in factory environments. As can be imagined, hardly anyone has bothered with office workers."

Until 16 December
Caravaggio and Paintings of Realism in Malta
The long-awaited exhibition will be held at the St John’s Co-Cathedral Annex, Valletta as part of the Caravaggio 400 celebrations, marking Caravaggio’s presence in Malta. Caravaggio’s ‘Portrait of a Knight’, which the Baroque master painted while on the island, will be the highlight of this showcase.

Until 7 November
Lust for Colours of Life
An exhibition of oil paintings by Ljupco Samardziski will open on Wednesday 17 October at 7:30pm at the Artitude Gallery, Tigne Street, Sliema. Born in Macedonia and beginning his artistic career as a soloist on double-bass, he went to hold exhibitions in a number of European galleries. He has won several awards, including 'Foreign artist of the year' in Mexico, the Grand Prix International in Arles, '92, Special Malta International Biennale President's Award and others. He lives in Paris and Malta.

2 November – 2 December
A white chapel for a white dance
An exhibition of paintings by Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci at the Contemporary Hall of the National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta. Open Monday to Sunday from 9.00am to 5.00pm

Until 4 November
Etcetera, perche la minesstra si fredda
An exhibition of paintings by Franco Navarro at the Heritage Malta Head Office, Valletta.

Until 30 November
Caravaggio: l'Immagine del Divino
An exhibition of original masterpieces of Caravaggio, organised by Heritage Malta and Romartificio Eventi d'Arte. At the Salon in the National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta. Open Monday to Sunday from 9.00am - 7.00pm (last admission at 6.30pm).

30 December
Malta's Mediterranean Trilogy: Bread, Oil and Wine
An exhibition organised by Heritage Malta as part of the EU programme Trimed. At the Ta' Kola Windmill, Xaghra Gozo. Open Monday to Sunday from 9.00am - 5.00pm (last admission at 4.30pm).

WORKSHOPS

Today
Commedia Dell' Arte
Jaume Villalba Sanchez will be giving a full day workshop in the techniques of performing in Commedia dell'Arte style.
This forms part of Maleth's celebrations of Carlo Goldini's 300th birthday. Villalba is a prolific expert in the unique techniques and will be working with participants to understand commedia and how it is intended to be performed. The workshop will take place at the Vivaldi Hotel, St Julian's, between 9:00am and 4:00pm. No experience is required, punctuality is appreciated. A fee of Lm 5 will be payable for participation.

Today
Caravaggio Educational Workshop: Re-interpreting Caravaggio
The second in the series of educational workshops connected to the Caravaggio: l'Immagine del Divino exhibition. The guest speaker will lecture the young audience on Caravaggio’s techniques. A practical workshop will follow in which children are invited to draw pictures based on the techniques taught. Event organised by Heritage Malta at the National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta. Event starts at 10.30am till 12.30pm.

QUIZ NIGHTS

Thursdays
Quiz Nights
Quiz Nights held at Ciao Frà, Xemxija. Entrance next to Beachaven. Every Thursday at 9.00pm, tables team up to fill in a self-completion quiz pack of 40 general knowledge and current affairs questions. Winners receive Lm10 discount off their bill and a bottle of bubbly (both winners and runners-up). Participation fee Lm1. Reservations call: 99458567.

BOOK FAIR

14 - 18 November
Malta Book Fair
The 23rd edition of the Malta Book Fair will be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. Entrance is free of charge. Buses from City Gate will take commuters to the MCC at a nominal price. Anyone visiting the fair will be given a ticket entitling them to participate in a lottery for books donated by the exhibitors. A variety of other activities will be held, including a poetry festival.